-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Pakistan 's much-awaited military offensive in North Waziristan was launched more than a week ago , and followed an attack on Karachi airport that left at least 36 people dead .

Due to the strategic calculations of the Pakistani state , North Waziristan has steadily fallen into the hands of motley militant networks , and has become a mountainous zone for the Pakistani Taliban to recruit , regroup and launch attacks against the country .

The Pakistani Army conducted a similar operation in the Swat Valley in 2009 , not too far from the tribal areas , that has been a relative success in reclaiming territory . It is unclear which direction the latest operation will go . But a major humanitarian crisis is brewing in the wake of the new offensive .

As of Wednesday , the government had registered over 450,000 internally displaced people -LRB- IDPs -RRB- who have been fleeing the area in view of the aerial bombardments and warnings by military authorities . There are fears the figures could be much higher .

Desperate need for shelter

The military has taken extraordinary steps , especially in terms of its public relations efforts , to minimize the fallout in public perception . It 's issuing press releases , specifying how many terrorists have been killed , and giving a count of aid distributed .

Yet , thousands of families still need immediate support in terms of livelihood , shelter and basic amenities . While the United Nations has stepped in to provide aid , distribution systems have a long way to go in meeting the scale of demand .

Beyond North Waziristan , the Pakhtun population follows the age-old custom of accepting and looking after `` guests . '' Predictably , many families fleeing the violence are being absorbed into the towns and villages of Bannu , in neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -LRB- KP -RRB- province .

Bannu town is straining under the pressure of a massive population influx . While local Pakhtuns and civic groups have been engaged , the response of the government authorities has been slow . The disaster management authority -LRB- FDMA -RRB- in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas -LRB- FATA -RRB- , underfunded like most government agencies , is battling with the magnitude of the crisis .

Government response

The government has established one camp in Bannu , but many more facilities are needed , especially during the hot summer season . A meager grant is being offered to each family for their multifarious needs , but very few have received it so far .

The political opposition that rules KP has complained of a funds shortage , and voices in the media have criticized the federal government 's inordinate focus on domestic political squabbles and high profile infrastructure projects , ignoring the plight of homeless people .

The minister in charge of the government response â $ '' the Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadri Baloch -- has said `` every reasonable need of the IDPs will be taken care of in the best possible manner and money is not an issue . '' However , he also urged fellow Pakistanis to `` open their pockets . ''

Few places to go

Pakistan 's ethnic politics also impedes free movement of IDPs . While the country 's constitution allows for freedom of movement for its citizens , the provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab have restricted the inflow of migrants from the north .

The provincial government of Sindh says that it is already dealing with two million `` aliens '' and has attributed the rise of militancy in the port city Karachi due to earlier in-country migrations . Similarly , Punjab , the home province of Pakistan 's Prime Minister , has refused to host the displaced people .

This policy has been termed illegal by political leaders and has caused resentment not just among the IDPs but Pakistan 's Pakhtun population in general .

Marginalized population

The people of North Waziristan -- and the tribal region FATA -- have been stranded between the military and the militants for more than a decade . They have dealt with historic marginalization , underdevelopment , high poverty levels and , of late , the polio epidemic .

An estimated 160,000 children are vulnerable since the Taliban banned immunization in North Waziristan two years ago , terming immunization as a `` Western conspiracy . '' A major worry nationally is that the polio virus may spread faster than it has in recent months . According to government officials , Pakistan has reported 65 polio cases from FATA this year of which 50 alone pertained to North Waziristan .

Challenge and opportunities

These grave challenges require leadership and effective interagency coordination . Pakistan 's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has set up a high level body that monitors the day-to-day situation . But , it is the local authorities that need more funds and broader mandates .

The risks of aggravating the already marginalized people are manifold . Increased radicalization is one since the area is an open field for charities affiliated with extremist organizations .

There are opportunities as well . Free of Taliban diktat , there is a greater scope for immunization campaigns for the children now . There is also an opportunity to rebuild FATA , which has been governed since the British times as a remote outpost of the Empire with little or no rights for the local population . Earlier reform efforts led nowhere .

Political and administrative reforms must follow the military operations . Local governments and courts are needed for the area . Pakistan 's tribal belt has to evolve from its current status as a `` strategic , '' semi-colonial arena to a democratic polity . This requires a civil-military consensus .

For now , the country must tackle the growing numbers of homeless and avoid another catastrophe in the making .

Fleeing Pakistanis crowd border towns , asking ` why were n't we warned ? '

@highlight

Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing North Waziristan

@highlight

Rumi : Government has been slow to act to avert humanitarian crisis

@highlight

Army launched strikes in retaliation for Pakistan Taliban attack on airport

@highlight

Civilians caught in the crackdown are crowding nearby town of Bannu